Concrete form structure



July 20, 1965 v. J. LUNDELL 3,195,852

CONCRETE FORM-S TRUCTURE Filed July 17, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W 1/2 YYLOYL Qj. Lundell q-n'o ma f July 20, 1965 v. J. LUNDELL CONCRETE FORM-STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 17, 1963 NVEMTOK/ fifirnon Qj. Lawn cLell United States Patent 3,195,852 CQNEETE FGRM Vernon .l. Lundei Lundell Manufacturing ompany, Ind, Cherokee, Iowa Filed July 17, 1963, Ser. No. 295,659 4 Claims. (QR. 249-34) The invention relates to forms for the casting of concrete structures and more particularly to forms for easting foundation structures of the type commonly known as footings.

One object of the invention is to provide a concrete form of the above general character which can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled.

Another object is to provide a concrete form for footings and the like which maintains dimensional precision and accuracy of location without the use of ground-driven stakes or other external bracing.

Another object is to provide a concrete form which is readily adaptable for the casting of footings and comparable structures of any desired thickness and of varying heights. It is also an object of the invention to provide a concrete form which can be manufactured inexpensively and which can be set up for use with a minimum of labor and at relatively low cost.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be come apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the improved concrete form structure set up for use.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view through the form taken in a horizontal plane substantially on the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the upper end of one of the post elements of the form structure.

PEG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view through the form structure taken in a vertical plane substantially on the line 44 of FXGURE 1.

PEG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4 showing a modification of the adjusting mechanism and lower tie strap.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in a horizontal plane substantially on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

While there is shown in the drawings and described in detail herein a preferred form of the invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as characterized in the appended claims.

For purposes of illustration, the form structure constituting the present invention has been shown as set up for the casting of a concrete foundation or footing for a building. Such footings commonly include a foundation portion cast in a trench-like excavation it in the ground and a smooth-sided wall portion extending above ground level. The trench may be of any desired depth and is preferably dug with relatively straight side walls which serves to determine the thickness of the concrete structure below ground level.

in carrying out the invention a plurality of post elements H are provided which are adapted to be assembled in pairs and erected in uniformly spaced relation lengthwise of the trench 1t). Adjacent pairs of the posts act to hold and position wall elements 12 which serve to confine the wet plastic concrete and define the inner and outer surfaces of the wall portions of the footing above ground level. While the wall elements may comprise fabricated metal or wood panels, those shown here are wood planks of uniform thickness, length and width.

The post elements iii are all alike, each comprising an elongated body in the general form of an I-beam with an lhih fifi Patented July 2%, 1965 inner web 14 and an outer Web 15 joined by a central member 16 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The wide outer web 15 has its side edges bent outwardly to form flanges 17. Welded or otherwise secured to the lowerend of the upright body portion of the post is a foot element 18 which may conveniently be channel-shaped in cross-section. The foot element 18 projects at right angles to the upright body portion of the post and serves to support the same.

In use, the post elements 11 are assembled in pairs with the foot element 18 of each post directed outwardly. When thus assembled the I-shaped body defines channels 3 .9 aligned back-to-back and facing lengthwise of the wall-like structure to be cast in concrete. The companion pairs of the posts ll; are spaced apart longitudinally according to the length of the planks 12, the ends of which engage in the channels 19.

Simple and effective means is provided for positively retaining the posts 11 of each pair spaced apart to produce a wall structure of a desired thickness. This means preferably comprises a pair of relatively narrow elongated tie straps 2t), 21 adapted to interlock with strap engaging means carried at the upper and lower ends of the post elements. The upper strap element Zll as shown in FIGURE 1 may comprise a narrow, relatively thin steel strip having holes punched or drilled adjacent opposite ends for receiving strap engaging means in the form of ins 22 welded to and projecting upwardly from the top of each post. It will be understood, of course, that the pin receiving holes are spaced apart in accordance with the desired thickness of the wall structure to be cast.

The straps 21 may comprise narrow wood strips as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 or may be thin metal strips 23 as shown in FIG. 5. In either case, holes are provided adjacent opposite ends for the reception of pins 24 welded to and projecting downwardly from the lower end of each of the posts 11. The holes in the strips 21 and 23 are likewise spaced apart in accordance with the width of the Wall structure to be cast, the spacing being somewhat greater than for the straps when the pins 24 are welded to the shoes 15 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, novel means is provided by which the post elements 11 may be adjusted vertically to aline the wall elements 12 in a common horizontal plane when one side of the trench it? is higher than the other side. The adjusting means in its preferred form comprises a rod 25 having its lower end portion threaded through a nut-like element 26 welded to the shoe 1% in alinement with a clearance hole in the shoe. The upper end of the rod may be bent to form a crank 27 for convenience in rotating the rod.

When wood strips 21 are used to tie the lower ends of the posts together, the strips are preferably out long enough to extend beyond the outer ends of the shoe 18 as shown in FIG. 4-. The projecting lower ends of the adjusting rods may then bear against the strips in performing their raising and lowering functions. When metal straps 23 are used, they are cut off short of the ends of the shoes 13. The adjusting rods 25 for such assemblies are conveniently fitted with ground engaging pressure plates 23 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. If desired the pressure plates may be attached to the adjusting rods by conventional ball joints, allowing the plates to conform to the slope of the ground and to remain stationary when the rods are rotated.

Erection of the improved concrete form structure is a simple operation that can be performed quickly by relatively unskilled labor. After the trench It? is dug, the straps 21 or 23 are laid across it at intervals conforming to the lengths of the planks 12 which are preferably unit V 7 Q form. A pair of the posts straps with the pins 24 of the respective posts inserted in 11 are then assembled with the the holes in the straps to properly space theposts' apart transversely of thetren'ch. The wall'elernents or planks 12 may then be inserted in the channels'19 of each ad-* jacent pair of posts'and are preferably secured thereto by nails 29 driven through holes 30 provided in the web 15' of each post as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The number of planks inserted in the channels will depend uponthe desired height of the wall to'be cast. As the'final step of the erection, the tops of the posts'are tied'to gether by dropping a tie strap 20 over the pins 22 at the tops of the posts. Any leveling required to aline the planks '12 is efiected by rotation of theadjustingrods 25.

' The interconnection of the posts '11 of each pair bythe porting post comprising, in combination, an upright body portion for receiving in fixed but removable relation the ends of one .or more wall defining elements, a supporting foot projecting at right angles frorn the lower end of said upright body portion, pins projecting from the upper end of said'upright body portion and from the lower side of said supporting foot, upper and lower spacing elements loosely and slidably engaging said upper and lower pins, respectively, for securing said post to a companion post to; define a spaced wall form in predetermined. paired spaced relation, said lower spacing element adapted to fest on theground .beneathsaid foot supporting'said body "portion, and an adjusting elementthreaded through said straps 2t), 21 or 23 enables theposts to hold the wall elements 12 in position to confine a mass of plastic concrete in the form of awall extending above ground levelf rom the foundation-like mass of concrete filling the trench It). This eliminates the need for ground driven stakes or other bracing structures and materially simplifies the erection of the form with a consequent saving in material and labor costs. It also insures. greater dim ensional precision and wall thickness 'and more accurate location of be cut or broken off at thewall surface if desiredwhile foot outwardly of said lower pin, said adjusting element acting when rotated to raise or lowervsaid supporting post relative to said lower spacing element, said pins and co- I 7 operating spacing elements permitting free movement of said post in response to adjustment of said adjusting element.

2. A wall element supportingpost as defined in claim 1;wherein said upright body portion defines oppositelyopening elongated channels for receiving the ends of one or more of said wall definingelements. v

3. A wall element supporting post'as defined in claim l-wherein-said lower spacing element is formed at one end so as to terminate closely adjacent said lower pin and a pressure plate'is provided for supporting said adjusting element on the ground.

A wall element supporting post as defined in claim 1 wherein1"sai d--lower spacing element isformed at one end so as to-extend outwardly from said lower pin beyond said adjusting element and said'adjusting element engages the projectingends of metal tie straps are simply bent flat against the wall surface.

- It will be apparent from the'foregoing that the inveng tion provides a concrete form structure of novel and advantageous character." The improved concrete form can be erected quickly and easily with a minimum of labor. It eliminates the usual bracing structure including ground driven stakes and still provides dimensional precision and accurate location of the cast wall'structure. The form is particularly versatile in its adaptability to the casting of wall structures of'difierent thickness and heights. 1 Furthe upper surface of said lower spacing element for raising and lowering said supporting post relative thereto.

-Ref erences Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 830,893 9/06 Engelhardt, 25 131 I j 949,521 7 2/10 Collins 25--131 991,635 '5/11 -Nielsen 25-1 1 "1,034,427 8/12 DaW m 25131 2,518,847 1 8/50 Youngman -Q. 25,13l McMullen 25-431 thermore the simplicity ofthe parts of the form enables 7 them to be manufacturedat low cost and their durability insures a long u seful life.

I claim as-rny invention: V V 1. In a'co-ncrete form structure, a wall element sup- FOREIGN" PATENTS 11/49 Australia.

" 155,334 1 V 4/21 Great Britain.

160,867 WI LIAM STEPHENSON, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT F. WHIT MICHAEL v. BRINIDISI,

Examiners. 

1. IN A CONCRETE FORM STRUCTURE, A WALL ELEMENT SUPPORTING POST COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AN UPRIGHT BODY PORTION FOR RECEIVING IN FIXED BUT REMOVABLE RELATION THE ENDS OF ONE OR MORE WALL DEFINING ELEMENTS, A SUPPORTING FOOT PROJECTING AT RIGHT ANGLES FROM THE LOWER END OF SAID UPRIGHT BODY PORTION, PIN PROJECTING FROM THE UPPER END OF SAID UPRIGHT BODY PORTION AND FORM THE LOWER SIDE OF SAID SUPPORTING FOOT, UPPER AND LOWER SPACING ELEMENTS LOOSELY AND SLIDABLY ENGAGING SAID UPPER AND LOWER PINS, RESPECTIVELY, FOR SECURING SAID POST TO A COMPANION POST TO DEFINE A SPACED WALL FORM IN PREDETERMINED PAIRED SPACED RELATION, SAID LOWER SPACING ELEMENT ADAPTED TO REST ON THE GROUND BENEATH SAID FOOT SUPPORTING SAID BODY PORTION, AND AN ADJUSTING ELEMENT THREADED THROUGH SAID FOOT OUTWARDLY OF SAID LOWER PIN, SAID ADJUSTING ELEMENT ACTING WHEN ROTATED TO RAISE OR LOWER SAID SUPPORTING POST RELATIVE TO SAID LOWER SPACING ELEMENT, SAID PINS AND COOPERATING SPACING ELEMENTS PERMITTING FREE MOVEMENT OF SAID POST IN RESPONSE TO ADJUSTMENT OF SAID ADJUSTING ELEMENT. 